Nine dredgers seized from Chittagong port

Chittagong Port Authority seized nine dredgers from the port jetty-1 on Saturday. Among the dredgers, one of them belonged to Muslem Uddin, president of Awami League in South Chittagong, reports Banglanews.    A section of the influential people in Chittagong has allegedly been involved in the illegal business of lifting sand, using dredgers, from the Karnaphuli River.    They had even gotten approval from the CPA for doing so, but they were violating the rule and lifting the sand illegally. Chief of Hydrography department of CPA, Lieutenant Commander M Habibul Alam, had ordered to conduct the drive that resulted in the dredgers being seized.   According to the department’s list, the names of the dredgers are – Gausia, owned by Md Morshed, Shah Amanat, owned by Mohiuddin Bakul, NC-3, owned by Captain Md Hafiz, Sajeda, owned by Abul Hossain, MV Safi, owned by Md Jakaria, MV Shah Amanat, owned by Jakaria, Rifat, owned by Md Selim, Bismillah, owned by Md Faruq and Hasan 1, owned by Muslem Uddin.    Seeking anonymity, an official of the CPA said the offenders lifted sand in the night. The authorities had warned them several times but they did not comply.   The Secretary of the port, Sayed Farhad Uddin said, “We have captured nine dredgers for lifting sands illegally from the river. We will take legal actions against the owners.”   Sources said Hasan, a supporter of AL, had rented the vessel from Muslem for lifting the sand but he denied the allegations Muslem made, claiming that he did not own any dredgers and that the seized vessel might belong to his brother.    He had not been aware of the matter as he has currently been staying in Dhaka, he added.